American History Grant Awarded to Miami Hamilton to benefit Mason, Hamilton and Middletown schools

June 16, 2006

Miami University Hamilton has been awarded a third U.S. Department of Education grant in the amount of $999,953 to improve the quality of American history education.

The Teaching American History grant partners Miami Hamilton with Mason, Middletown and Hamilton city school districts, as well as Lane Library, Middletown Public Library and Mason City Public Library to create “America’s Journey: The Beacon of Liberty, 1492-1965.” 

Part of the No Child Left Behind program, the grant provides funding for a three-year project to improve teachers’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of traditional American history through professional development initiatives.  The focus of this grant is on immigration.

As part of The Michael J. Colligan History Project, the first grant, awarded in 2003 in conjunction with Hamilton city schools, launched  the project entitled “America’s Journey: The Quest for Freedom, 1492-1836.” The second grant, awarded in 2005, expanded the project into Fairfield and Northwest school districts.

As with the first two grants, this grant will provide three years of seminars and five-day institutes each summer for 50 history instructors who teach grades 4, 5, 8 and 10. During these seminars, teachers will explore history content and teaching methods. The project also will create resources to be shared with other districts.

Miami history professors Michael Carrafiello and Martin Johnson (Hamilton Campus) and Rob Schorman (Middletown Campus) will lead the project.

“We are delighted to partner once again with Hamilton city schools and to reach out to Mason and Middletown schools with this grant program.  It will enrich the teaching of American history for teachers and for hundreds of area students,” Carrafiello said.

Dr. Daniel E. Hall, Miami Hamilton Campus Dean, applauds the newest grant. “The success of the first two grants is an illustration of the exemplary programming that will benefit our newest partners. Most of all, more students will benefit from enriched American history instruction,” Hall said.